Swine

With an ever-expanding global population, and continually declining number of farmers producing fresh food, modern agriculture operates with necessary efficiencies often overlooked by critics. A long-standing false representation of agriculture has made consumers skeptical of how their food is produced. The purpose of this article is to explain what concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) are, how they adhere to animal welfare priorities and their essential role in producing adequate food for our population.  

Agricultural producers face many pressures and challenges. With a growing population that will demand more food, and a strained climate that requires attention and adjustment of practices, it is difficult to know right from wrong and fact from fiction. 

Consumers have constantly evolving preferences and expectations when shopping for meat. Recent legislation, such as Proposition 12, demonstrates just how dedicated consumers are to understanding how their meat was raised and ensuring it aligns with their values. 

As a society, we have a strong understanding of how to prevent the spread of germs. We wash our hands, clean our spaces, seal our food and stay home if we are sick. Pork producers implement similar practices on their farms to keep their herds healthy. 

Technological advancements continue to shift the pork industry. While not new to producers, data is integral to furthering sustainable pork farming. Producers are experienced in recording data on various aspects of their operations — feed use, litter size, rate of gain and the list goes on — to ensure they run efficient and cost-effective operations.